Topbest Pest Services: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Frequently Asked Questions:

Termite Questions:

Q: Why worry about termites?

A: Termites cause billions of pesos in damage each year. These wood-destroying insects feed on the cellulose present on the wood as well those contained in other items such as paper, books, insulation, clothes, carpets and even swimming pool liners and filtration systems. They can even injure living trees and shrubs, although they are more often a secondary invader/feeder of woody trees in decline.

Besides the monetary impact, the thought of your place of rest and refuge being feasted upon by thousands of termites can be particularly traumatizing. The possibility of precious heirlooms, irreplaceable antique furniture and memorabilia such as souvenirs, yearbooks and comic book collections being permanently lost also give us further reason to protect ourselves and our investment.

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Q: How do I know if my home is currently infested with termites?

A: There are several indicators of termite infestation.

- A.) If you are able to observe termite swarming in your property then this signifies that a termite colony is present in or beneath a structure. The goal of termite swarming is reproduction and only a small percentage of termite swarmers survive during this process. Since swarming usually do leave damages on the structure and lasts only a few hours, people might perceive it as a mere nuisance. However, it only takes one pair of termite alates or reproductives to start a whole new colony.
- B.) If you did not personally the swarming, alate wings near window sills, doors, heating vents, bathtubs and sinks are indicators that swarming did occur.
Since termites need constant moisture, they do not roam around out in the open. They will either tunnel through wood (or other material) or else, travel inside pencil-size (or larger) mud tubes that they build from soil, wood particles and oth er materials. You will find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or other parts of the house. Tubes may also hang from the floor system or may be found protruding from cracks between boards and beams and even through holes termites may chew through sheet rock on walls and ceilings.
- An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gone; they may have simply abandoned this particular tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, which is another indication of current activity. 'Old' tubes are dry and crumble easily, leaving behind "etching" on the surface that may be visible for years (an indication that a house had termite activity at some time).
- Tubes that are found on ceilings or on the second floor of buildings may indicate that you have a "secondary" or aboveground ("aerial") infestation, i.e., the termite colony actually lives in the building and the termites are traveling up from the soil. Mud tubes built by an aboveground colony usually contain materials other than soil, e.g., wood and sheet rock or whatever the termites are feeding on. Secondary infestations occur when there is a serious moisture problem or leak somewhere within the structure. In such situations, a thorough inspection may require removal of siding or interior wallboards, etc. More importantly for you, secondary infestations cannot be controlled with the usual soil treatment. Finding and correcting the moisture problem is the first step to eliminating the termites.
T?y to observe if there are damaged wood. However, since termites eat wood from the inside out, damaged wood will be hard to find. Break open hollow-sounding wall studs, baseboards and floors. If you are able to find a honeycombed pattern inside the wood, then you can be sure that there is an existing infestation. Another indication is the soil packing the excavations which can result in bulging walls.
Lastly, if you are able to see live termites in the area then you have just observed the most pressing proof of a termite infestation. In this scenario, please call your friendly neighborhood pest control operator for a free inspection of your property.

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Q. My next-door neighbor has termites and is going to have his house treated. Will termites start transferring to my property?

A: Termites do not make distinctions when it comes to searching for food. Since termites constantly forage for food, even if they have existing food sources, they might reach your property and feed on it whether or not your neighbor has his house treated. Even if your house has no signs of infestation, it might be best to have your property inspected for your peace of mind. (An ounce of prevention can be worth much more than a pound of cure.) or Prevention is better than cure.

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Q. What are the differences between ants and termites?

A. Aside from having a different life cycle, termites can be differentiated from ants via a series of physical traits.

Although both ants and termites have two sets of wings, termite wings are uniform in size whereas ant wings have noticeably larger wings in the front when compared to hind pair. Ant wings also do not break easily in contrast to termite wings that break off at the slightest touch (as can be seen during swarming).
Termite wings are twice as big as their body.
Termites have almost straight antennae while the ants antennae are elbowed.
4.) Ants appear distinctly segmented, because of their thin-waisted appearance. Termites have a broad-waisted appearance since their bodies are straight-sided with no constriction.

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Q. Are mice the same as rats?

A. Rats and mice have many differences and similarities. Usually, the two species are compared by evaluating the differences between house mice (Mus musculus) and Norway or black rats (Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus).

Mice and rats cannot interbreed though they are related. Each type of animal evolved differently, selecting certain characteristics that appear to have been of most help in ensuring survival.

Simply from a visual standpoint, you'll notice immediate difference between Norway or Black rats and house mice. Rats are much larger and at maturity, are heavier than mice. they have long, thick, heavy tails.

A mouse, conversely, is much shorter, about half the size of a rat. Their tails are very thin, making them barely perceptible as compared to the much wider and longer rat tail.

Rats' ears tend to be smaller in proportion to their heads, with more blunt features than do their distant relatives. Mice generally have delicate features and have more pointed faces.

When kept together as house pets, they may create problems for each other. Rats may kill mice and eat mice, most commonly in undomesticated settings, and presence of rats in a home can seriously disturb a mouse. They may breed less or be panicked. If you want both rats and mice as pets, you should consider keeping them in separate rooms.

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Questions on Service:

Q. Why should I hire a professional pest control operator when I can do it myself?

A. In as much as we do not discourage do-it-yourself pest control, most homeowners would lack the knowledge, training and experience that professionals have to treat pest problems effectively.

One key component in treating a pest problem effectively is the correct identification of the insect species and subsequently, developing the most effective course of treatment that takes the insect's biology and habits into account. Furthermore, pest control professionals have specialized equipment and access to regulated chemicals that enable them to treat pest problems more efficiently. If you do choose to handle your pest problem yourself, be sure to research on the limited chemicals available publicly and to follow all label directions carefully.

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Q. How safe are the pesticides used by professionals and homeowners?

A. Generally, if pesticides are handled and applied with care according to label directions, they do not represent an unreasonable risk to people, non-target organisms or the environment. Pest control professionals have Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) on the pesticides that they use and these can be requested by the client to assure them of the safety standards for each chemical used during treatment.

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Q. How long will it take to rid my home of the pests?

A. It will depend on the particular pest problem and the type of treatment needed to be undertaken. Since no two situations are the same, we will diagnose the problems and implement the best solution possible.

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Q. How long does a termite inspection take?

A. Usually, depending on the size of your house and property, it takes less about an hour. Our skilled, experienced technicians will check the entire house thoroughly, from foundation to roof.

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Q. How long before you can stop our termite problem?

A. That will depend on the degree of termite infestation, the kind of species and the type of treatment that you have chosen to use. Usually a mild infestation can be eliminated in as a short as one week to a month whereas a heavier infestation, can range from two months to as long eight months.

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Q. Is it safe to stay in my premises while you spray?

A. Although it is perfectly safe, we do recommend that you vacate your premises while the treatment is being carried out and to ventilate the rooms thoroughly after completion for 3 hours before settling back in.

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Q. Will I have to leave the house during inspections?

A. Not usually. Most work can be un?ertaken with you at home.

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Q. Are your pest control methods safe for my children and pets?

A. Yes, we usually assess the situation in the clients property and inform the homeowners before performing any pest control treatment. We use the safest, most modern materials available and will not carry out any work which might cause any problem.

We ask that pregnant women and any children 4 years old or younger be absent during actual treatment and for 4 hours afterwards. This is just an extra precaution for the sake of the homeowner. Pets should also be distanced during the treatment as an added safety measure since the amount of active ingredient in the chemicals is already far too small to adversely affect them through incidental contact or ingestion.

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